To e international sports and cultural exchange and deepen friendship between Chinese and Japanese youth, the table tennis team from Sapporo University, Japan, visited East China University of Science and Technology on 6th October. This marked the commencement of a week-long table tennis exchange programme. Athletes from both universities bonded through the sport, honing their skills and learning from one another through training sessions and matches, thereby infusing the campus sports culture with international vitality. This event was jointly organised by the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange, the College of International Education, and the School of Sports Science and Engineering.
The event commenced with the relevant officials extending a warm welcome to the Sapporo University table tennis team. They outlined the university's distinctive approach to physical education and the achievements in developing its table tennis programme, expressing hopes that this exchange would establish a lasting bridge for cultural communication in sport between the two universities. The Sapporo University team coach expressed gratitude for the meticulous arrangements made by ECUST, emphasising that table tennis serves not only as a competitive sport but also as a vital vehicle for fostering international youth friendship.
The exchange programme featured a packed schedule and rich content. From the itinerary on the first day of arrival in Shanghai to the subsequent days of training matches, both teams maintained high spirits throughout. During the training matches, the ECUST table tennis players demonstrated a steady competitive style through their solid fundamentals and seamless teamwork. Meanwhile, Sapporo University's players showcased distinct technical characteristics with agile footwork and an extremely aggressive rhythm of play.
Beyond the intense training sessions and matches, the event featured various cultural exchange activities. During their free time, team members explored the campus of East China University of Science and Technology, immersing themselves in the academic atmosphere and cultural heritage of Chinese higher education institutions. Others gathered in small groups to share stories of their daily training routines and campus life. Through the clash of languages and the exchange of cultures, the distance between the young Chinese and Japanese participants steadily diminished.
This exchange event represents not merely a contest of table tennis skills, but a cultural dialogue between young people from China and Japan. Guided by the spirit of sport, international exchanges centred on athletics will continue to inject fresh impetus into the friendly interactions between young people from China and abroad.